On income related esa and pip. Can my parents buy my council property for me and still claim esa

jamiemy
jamiemy Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
Hi there,  

I hope you can help me.

I am claiming income related employment and support allowance and enhanced rate of daily living PIP.

My parents want to buy my council property for me mortgage free as I am severely disabled and want me to have security for when they are gone. The issues that concern me is if they was to buy my council property for me, will I still be able to claim ESA because I have no savings and wouldn't be able to survive on just my PIP payment.

At no point will I have access to the funds they are providing and I have no savings at all. 

I also get housing benefit too, which I know I wouldn't get because I would not have any rent to pay.

I am really struggling to find any answers to my questions so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Jamie.





Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Your parents buying your house for you will not affect your ESA. The only thing you should think about is when you have your own home you're responsible for all repairs yourself. Are you going to be able to afford those repairs?
  • jamiemy
    jamiemy Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    Well my dad is a roofer and family members are electricians and plumbers so have been assured that if any problems arise they would fix them. Thank you for getting in touch so soon. I didn't think it was possible because I couldn't find anything about it. 
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    edited December 2022
    poppy123456 said:. Are you going to be able to afford those repairs?
    And insurance.
  • jamiemy
    jamiemy Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    Do you mean home  insurance? I already have that which works out only £2 a week.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    You will need buildings insurance too. It's not as simple as someone buying your house for you. At the moment your rent is covered through housing benefit and so are all the repairs, unless there's a shortfall of housing benefit. Owning your own home is extremely expensive and not something i would want relying on benefits.
  • ShirleyW
    ShirleyW Online Community Member Posts: 353 Empowering
    Not to disrespect what Poppy123456 has said about the cost of owning your own home but to show another perspective. 

    With careful management it can be done whilst on benefits.  Buildings insurance is not normally very expensive and can be paid monthly. 

    Some repairs and ongoing maintenance costs can be covered by a type of monthly insurance, things like boiler repairs. 

    Shortly after first buying our home (nearly 40 years ago) my husband became disabled and we managed and paid the mortgage.  I could only work part-time also.

    It's not easy but can be done.  Certain things have to be sacrificed.  We never went away on holiday, didn't go out much, rarely had new clothes, no smoking or drinking etc.

    I was very strict with putting money on one side for any repairs that might be needed.  You don't need to spend a fortune on decorating and keeping up with the Jones.  Very good furniture and white goods can be bought 2nd hand.

    There is a lot to be gained that is not financial from owing your own home.  For us it means that now we are able to sell our 3 bedroomed family home and buy a smaller bungalow in a nice area.  Getting a bungalow might not be so easy to do if we were renting and had to bid against others.   I just feel that it now gives us much more flexibility.